Josh Beckett, Boston's starter tonight, hasn't been at his best lately. That's no secret. Shoulder inflammation forced him onto the disabled list from mid-August to early September, and he injured an oblique muscle on a side session late in the season.

His velocity, as measured on the Tropicana Field radar gun, was down in Game 2, and he gave up nine hits and eight runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Rays players know he's considered one of the best postseason pitchers of his generation, a guy who came up big in the Florida Marlins' 2003 title run and for the Red Sox's world championship last year.

He said his approach to a playoff start is no different than usual. "I don't generally try to do too much in these games," Beckett said Friday.

What's in a name?

Shields' nickname is "Big Game James," and it's been mentioned again and again since the Rays played key games during the second half of the regular season.

It was given to him years ago by a teammate and fellow right-handed pitcher in the minor leagues named Chris Flinn.

Though Shields noted that the nickname first was given to former NBA great James Worthy, it's clear that Shields gets a kick out of it.

"You're not going to be a good ballplayer if you can't live up to things," Shields said. "I want to be the guy that's a postseason pitcher."

Etc.

Gov. Charlie Crist will throw out tonight's ceremonial first pitch. Crist was raised in St. Petersburg. . . . The game is a sellout. . . . The Red Sox have won eight consecutive ALCS elimination games.